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Definition of "rationalize" []

  • To make rational. (verb-transitive)
  • To interpret from a rational standpoint. (verb-transitive)
  • To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): "Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments” ( Janice Castro). (verb-transitive)
  • Mathematics To remove radicals, such as from a denominator, without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation). (verb-transitive)
  • Chiefly British To bring modern, efficient methods to (an industry, for example). (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "rationalize" in a sentence
  • "She had what she believed to be a good reason for revenge, and her villainous side was superbly played! on 26 May 2009 at 12: 25 pm thea the best villians are the high functioning ones, because they ‘seem’ so normal, and their ability to rationalize is quite scary. on 26 May 2009 at 12: 31 pm Karin Tabke"
  • "- Emerging markets to "rationalize" - we've beaten the China drum to death but there are others out there."
  • "It has been said that to rationalize is to tell rational lies, and we have been doing a lot of rationalizing capitalism over the past 5-10 years."